“I’ll think about your proposal.”
“You do that,” Judah said, “and don’t forget to tell the good doc your business merger’s off.” He crossed to the door, putting his hand out to open it for her—at least that’s what she thought he was going to do—before pressing his lips against her cheek, his stubble grazing her ever so slightly.
“Just so you know, Darla, I don’t plan on mixing business with my marriage.”
His meaning was unmistakable. His hand moved to her waist in a possessive motion, lingering at her hip just for a second, capturing her. She remembered everything—how good he’d made her feel, how magical a night was in his arms—and wished his proposal was made from love and not possessiveness.
Judah pulled the door open. “Next time I see you will be at the altar.”
Dear Reader,
I hope Creed’s story made its way to your keeper shelf! With the third installment of the Callahan Cowboys, Judah Callahan gets set to avoid Aunt Fiona’s matchmaking, Bode Jenkins’s scheming, his brothers’ mischief and anyone else who might think about pressing him toward the altar. Judah would secretly love to win Rancho Diablo, if only he didn’t have to marry to get it! But when he finds his dream girl, Darla Cameron, naked in his bed, Judah’s determination to stay away from all women wavers. It’s just too hard to stay away from the wedding shop owner and his own heart’s desire.
As school begins and carpool lines form and fall starts to tease us with football and cooler weather, let’s watch Judah “suffer” the joys of home life and earn the love of a good woman in The Bull Rider’s Twins. It promises to be a season he’ll enjoy—even if he doesn’t realize it right away. So here’s to the mystical, wild Diablos at Rancho Diablo, and to joy in your own corner of the world.
All my best,
Tina
www.tinaleonard.com
twitter.com/tina_leonard
facebook.com/tinaleonardbooks
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TINA LEONARD is a bestselling author of more than forty projects, including a popular thirteen-book miniseries for Harlequin American Romance. Her books have made the Waldenbooks, Ingram and Nielsen BookScan bestseller lists. Tina feels she has been blessed with a fertile imagination and quick typing skills, excellent editors and a family who loves her career. Born on a military base, she lived in many states before eventually marrying the boy who did her crayon printing for her in the first grade. Tina believes happy endings are a wonderful part of a good life. You can visit her at www.tinaleonard.com.
The Bull
Rider’s Twins
Tina Leonard
Many thanks to my editor Kathleen Scheibling, for believing in this series, always having faith in me and editing my work with a sure hand.
There are many people at Harlequin who make my books ready for publication, most of whom I will never have the chance to thank in person, and they have my heartfelt gratitude.
Also many thanks to my children, who by now are both off to college, leaving me with an empty nest. It’s not hard to envision me writing a series about babies—I had an extremely blessed experience with my two kids, and I thank you for your faith and encouragement.
And many, many thanks to the very generous readers who are the reason for my success. I could not write without your caring words and loyal support.
Chapter One
“Judah is my seeker,” Molly Callahan said of her toddler son, to which her husband, Jeremiah, replied, “Then the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, my love.”
Judah Callahan couldn’t believe the woman of his dreams was waiting in his bed. Unless he missed his guess, Darla Cameron was as naked as the day she was born.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, sitting up and holding the sheet to her chest. His throat went dry as a bone in a New Mexico desert. Blond hair cascaded over pale shoulders, and big blue eyes gazed at him with apprehension. She was nervous, Judah realized, closing the door and locking it behind him.
He wanted to say he’d been waiting for her for years. “I’d think you’d been in the champagne, but I noticed you didn’t go near it except to toast Creed and Aberdeen.”
She shook her head. “It was a lovely wedding. Really beautiful. All the valentine decorations were so romantic.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Whatever she thought was romantic about Creed’s wedding was nowhere near as attractive as Darla showing up nude in his bed. A little worry crossed her face, and he realized she was afraid he might turn down what she was obviously offering.
Not a chance.
He seated himself on the foot of the bed, the sight of her creamy skin setting him on fire. “If not an excess of champagne, why tonight?”
She blushed. “I wish I could tell you.”
That didn’t sound like the Darla he knew. Darla was forthright. An excellent businesswoman—her new calling since she’d hung up her nurse’s badge and gone into business as wedding shop owner with Jackie Samuels. “Try.”
She shook her head. “Be with me.”
He wasn’t going to put her, or himself, through any more agony. He kissed Darla, amazed at the sweet taste of her. “Peaches,” he said, his mind fogging up. “I always wondered what you smelled like, and now I know. You even taste like peaches.”
She moved his hand to the sheet, and he was beset by the urge to tear it away, feel what lay hidden beneath.
“There’s a hook here,” he said, knowing full damn well Darla Cameron wasn’t the type of woman who slept around. “Someone put you up to this, or you want something.”
“I do want something,” she said, her voice soft in the darkness. “Tonight I want you.”
So there it was. Tonight was only a simple hookup. Outside, music played, and fireworks streaked across the sky, popping and hissing. If he opened the window to his second-story bedroom, they would see clouds streaking the moon on a cold Valentine’s night. This would all be so romantic, if he wasn’t suffering from the sixth sense that something wasn’t right.
“How did you know I’d be sleeping in here and not the bunkhouse?”
“I know all the guests who are staying in the bunkhouse,” she told him, moving his hand slightly so the sheet barely covered her breasts. He could feel heavenly softness just a brush away. Being this close to her at long last was killing him. Parts of him felt like the fireworks, ready to explode.
“And Fiona mentioned that you and some of your brothers were sleeping in the house so the guests could have privacy.”
“So here you are.”
“Here I am,” she said, so sweetly breathless that he didn’t have the heart to keep looking the gift horse in the mouth. Luckily, he had condoms in the nightstand, a groom’s gift from Creed, who had a penchant for stupid gags. No silver letter opener for his groomsmen; no, just boxes of condoms with peace signs and neon inscriptions on the side. Creed’s last laugh, since the brother with the most progeny won Rancho Diablo. Creed was the most competitive of the Callahans.
“All right,” Judah said. “I’ve never thrown a woman out of my bed, and I certainly won’t start now.”